http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3ameantolearn&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:meantolearn'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SaveUp/jvnkq/post.htm#775300Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:16:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:775300meantolearnEither one will be fine. AmE tends to use 'upward of' while BrE tends to use 'upwards of'.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SaveUp/jvnkq/post.htmThu, 11 Jun 2009 07:20:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:775284meantolearnIs there a difference between 'save up' and 'save' as in "you may need to save up/save some money first - any one of these unforgettable experiences will cost you upward of US$6,000". Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WasITooLong/jvwwc/post.htm#774497Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:20:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:774497meantolearnHi, Clive. Is it OK to say the following? "Was I too long for the speech I just made?" "Was I too long for keeping you waiting?" Of course, I may also say, "was my speech too long". Thanks in advancehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WasITooLong/jvwwc/post.htmWed, 10 Jun 2009 06:11:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:773791meantolearn1. Is it OK to say the following? "Sorry for keeping you waiting. Was I too long?" 2. Is it OK to ask, "was I too long" when I use longer time to finish something (e.g. making a speech) Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ABroad/jcvbj/post.htmWed, 03 Jun 2009 01:20:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:762697meantolearna broad - an offensive slang for a woman 1. I wonder why the slang is offensive? Does the slang imply the woman is large in size? 2. Is the slang still popular nowadays? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TermsClauseQuestion/jbwck/post.htmSun, 31 May 2009 20:58:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:758958meantolearnIs it OK to say the following? "In terms of who should be using the Orthokine Theraphy?" Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/NotToSayThat/jbvgz/post.htm#758957Sun, 31 May 2009 20:53:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:758957meantolearnHi, Avangi. " His position is to recommend the treatment for old folks, but ( his position is) not to say that young folks couldn't benefit from it." Is this what you suggested, the same subject? Note: 'But' is a coordinating conjunction which joins two independent clauses. __ Hi, MrWordy. Thanks for pointing out the use of 'the'.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NotToSayThat/jbvgz/post.htmSun, 31 May 2009 08:25:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:757865meantolearnIs it OK to say the following? "Obviously, the older people should be getting Orthokine Therapy, but not to say that the younger patients shouldn't be getting." Thanks Note: Orthokine Therapy is a newly developed treatment for osteoarthritis.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BornToLive/wxlzx/post.htmWed, 20 May 2009 22:03:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:740228meantolearnIs 'born to live' an idiom? What does it mean? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BornToDie/wxlzv/post.htmWed, 20 May 2009 21:59:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:740218meantolearnIs 'born to die' an idiom? What does it mean? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeardThatPresentTense/wmnrb/post.htm#738190Tue, 19 May 2009 21:18:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:738190meantolearndirect speech /qouted speech Saying exactly what someone has said is called direct speech (sometimes called quoted speech) Here what a person says appears within quotation marks ("...") and should be word for word. For example: She said, "Today's lesson is on presentations." or "Today's lesson is on presentations," she said. indirect speech / reported speech Indirect speech (sometimes called reported speech), doesn't use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesn't have to be word for word. When reporting speech the tense usually changes. This is because when we use reported speech, we are usually talking about a time in the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/As/wxbbl/post.htmTue, 19 May 2009 06:45:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:737267meantolearn"Let's wait a few minutes for Steve as he will be here shortly." What does 'as' mean? Please explain. Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/InShortOrder/wnmcl/post.htm#737251Tue, 19 May 2009 06:40:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:737251meantolearnHi, cwtch. People go to a restaurant and try to get their food in 20 minutes. Are these sorts of orders considered "short orders"? Do you call these sorts of orders "short orders"? Thanks for the reply.http://www.englishforums.com/English/InShortOrder/wnmcl/post.htmMon, 18 May 2009 07:00:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:735550meantolearnDoes 'in short order' mean in short time? Does 'order' mean 'time' here? Can anyone breifly explain why? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeardThatPresentTense/wmnrb/post.htmFri, 15 May 2009 08:56:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:730882meantolearnPeople said the following /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in...http://www.englishforums.com/English/All/wkmhz/post.htmFri, 08 May 2009 04:22:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:720890meantolearn1. Do the following sound OK to you native speakers? a. I hope we all can agree. b. I hope we can all agree. What part of speech is 'all' in a & b? (adjective, adverb, pronoun....etc.) Do you have any better suggestions in addition to a & b? Thanks in advance.http://www.englishforums.com/English/InATheHole/wkggd/post.htm#719584Thu, 07 May 2009 05:25:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:719584meantolearnHi, MrM . Great imaginations!http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnDeck/wkgcb/post.htm#719145Wed, 06 May 2009 23:14:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:719145meantolearnHi, Phil. Cisco is a big networking company. "Cisco on deck" apparently, 'on deck' has a figurative meaning. I wonder what it is?http://www.englishforums.com/English/InATheHole/wkggd/post.htmWed, 06 May 2009 23:10:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:719137meantolearnin a hole - in debt, owing money (in business) Can anyone explain why?http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnDeck/wkgcb/post.htmWed, 06 May 2009 22:25:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:719067meantolearn"Cisco on deck" What does 'on deck' mean? Is it a commonly known term? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AFewWaysOfDescribingPain/wkgbp/post.htmWed, 06 May 2009 22:23:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:719064meantolearnIs it OK to say the following? a. My left upper tooth has pained a lot recently. b. My left upper tooth has got severe pain recently. Any better suggestions? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Dope/wkckc/post.htm#719047Wed, 06 May 2009 22:15:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:719047meantolearnHi, Phil. Thanks for the comment.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dope/wkckc/post.htmWed, 06 May 2009 07:11:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:718048meantolearn"Dude! This version was dope ." Here, dope probably means great, excellent. 1. Is the usage commonly known in the US? 2. Is this definition somewhat related to drug use? (dope has a quite opposite definition meaning a stupid person) Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PullYourselfTogether/wjndh/post.htm#717187Tue, 05 May 2009 20:19:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:717187meantolearnHi, Clive. Haven't heard from you for a while. Hope everything is fine with you. Thanks for the comment. It does help a lot.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PullSthOff/wjnvh/post.htm#716339Tue, 05 May 2009 08:46:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:716339meantolearnHi, CJ. Haven't heard from you for a while. Hope everything is fine with you. Thanks for the help. MTLhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PullSthOff/wjnvh/post.htmTue, 05 May 2009 07:37:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:716217meantolearn"Please don't push me. I can't pull this off , as I can't swim" What does 'pull off' mean in the context? Does it mean to accomplish something? Is 'pull sth off' common usage in spoken English? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PullYourselfTogether/wjndh/post.htmTue, 05 May 2009 07:24:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:716200meantolearn1. Does 'pull yourself together' mean 'calm down'? 2. Can anyone briefly explain why if the phrase does mean it? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/OutOfFromFromOutOfNowhere/wjncw/post.htmTue, 05 May 2009 07:18:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:716184meantolearn"Suddenly from out of nowhere the mother appeared." Do "suddenly from nowhere the mother appeared' and 'suddenly out of nowhere the mother appeared' both have the same meaning as the quotes above? (Meaning appearing suddenly without warning) Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AllOutOfLove2/wjlgr/post.htm#715862Tue, 05 May 2009 03:12:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:715862meantolearnHi, Mr Wordy. Thanks for the details. They help a lot. MTLhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AllOutOfLove1/wjlcc/post.htm#715861Tue, 05 May 2009 03:10:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:715861meantolearnThanks all for the great comments. MTLhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AllOutOfLove2/wjlgr/post.htmMon, 04 May 2009 23:45:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:715666meantolearnI want you to come back and carry me home Away from these long lonely nights I'm reaching for you, are you feeling it too Does the feeling seem oh so right And what would you say if I called on you now And saying that I can't hold on There's no easy way, it gets harder each day Please love me or I'll be gone, I'll be gone 1. what does 'reach for you' mean? Is it common usage? 2. Does 'called on you' mean 'asked you'? (It doesn't mean call by phone, does it?) 3. Does 'can't hold on' mean can't wait? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AllOutOfLove1/wjlcc/post.htmMon, 04 May 2009 23:07:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:715600meantolearn"I'm lying alone with my head on the phone Thinking of you till it hurts I know you hurt too but what else can we do Tormented and torn apart" "With my head on the phone" 1. What does the quote mean? Does it mean the writer's talking on the phone? "Thinking of you till it hurts" 2. Does 'it' refer to 'my head'? Or It's just a subject and doesn't have any meaning? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/FailProof/wwgwg/post.htmFri, 01 May 2009 06:38:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:709348meantolearn"He put all of his money in what he thougt was a fail-proof investment plan". Does "fail-proof" mean the plan which protects against failure? Is 'fail-proof' common usage? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/NotCutIt/whjzg/post.htmTue, 28 Apr 2009 06:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:705251meantolearnnot cut it - to not be good enough to do something : e.g. I don't get it why such a talented guy just can't cut it. e.g. If she can't cut it, we might need to get someone else to take over the case. e.g. Players who can't cut it soon quit the team. Can anyone briefly explain why this phrase has such a meaning? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ShoutScreamYellHollerShriek/whjvv/post.htmTue, 28 Apr 2009 06:37:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:705232meantolearnDo these verbs pretty much mean the same ? meaning to make a very high loud sound. Thanks shout, cry, scream, yell, holler, shriekhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ToCutSbDown/whdhg/post.htm#705196Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:56:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:705196meantolearn- to cut sb. down to size to make someone realize that they are not as important, successful etc as they think they are e.g She's finally cut down to size . Now she knows that she's no better than the rest of us.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AlwaysOnMyMind2/whgkj/post.htmMon, 27 Apr 2009 20:22:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:704472meantolearn" Maybe I didn't hold you All those lonely, lonely times I guess I never told you I'm so happy that you're mine Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time You were always on my mind You were always on my mind" The song writer uses the present tense and past tense all together. In the underlined portion: why not use past tense all the way? I guess I never told you I was so happy that you were mine. Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ToBeACutAboveSomething/whdwz/post.htm#704444Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:11:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:704444meantolearnHi, MrM. I appriciate your answer even though it needs more evidence. Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ToCutCorners/whdlb/post.htm#704440Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:03:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:704440meantolearnHi, MrM. a cornered triangle = a right angle triangle In a triangle, any two sides are longer than the third side. Your explanations do make sense. To Avoid walking around the corner does save some travelling time. Thanks for the reply. " taking a shortcut across someone's garden rather than walking all the way to the corner and then turning right (or left). "http://www.englishforums.com/English/ToCutCorners/whdlb/post.htmMon, 27 Apr 2009 08:32:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:703614meantolearncut corners - to do something in a way that saves time, effort, or money, but that also results in it not being done properly : I knew this idiom long time ago. Can anyone briefly explain why it has such a meaing? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ToBeACutAboveSomething/whdwz/post.htmMon, 27 Apr 2009 08:02:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:703567meantolearnto be a cut above something to be much better than someone else or something else : e.g. She thinks she's a cut above everyone else. Can anyone explain this idiom? Why does it have such a meaning? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ToCutSbDown/whdhg/post.htmMon, 27 Apr 2009 07:54:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:703551meantolearn"She's always cutting others down." Does the quote mean "she's always lettng others down"? Do you native speakers use "cutting someone down" often? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ToBeCutOutForSth/whdgb/post.htmMon, 27 Apr 2009 07:36:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:703529meantolearn"And as you can see, I am cut out for something special." to be cut out for something - to have the qualities that you need for a particular job or activity : e.g. In the end, I decided I wasn't cut out for a high school teacher. No need to answer.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CutUp/whddg/post.htmMon, 27 Apr 2009 07:12:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:703483meantolearn"We're cutting up and having fun." we're cutting up = we're having a good time --- the explanations by a hostess of a learning English program. But, I've looked up all the dictionaries, the verbal phrase "to be cut up" has a very opposite meaning. It means very upset. e.g. He was all cut up over his mother's death. How come the same verbal phrase has quite different definitions? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AlwaysOnMyMind/wgvjn/post.htm#699156Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:58:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:699156meantolearnHi, MrM. "You were always on my mind." 1. Does the verse suggest that you are no longer on my mind any more since the past tense is used? Does the verse suggest their relations has ended? 2. I wonder why not use the present tense? (i.e. you are always on my mind.) The song strongly shows the song's writer still loves or cares about "You" very much. Thanks for your replies. They do help.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeAintHeavyHesMyBrother/wgvkr/post.htmSun, 19 Apr 2009 07:15:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:698972meantolearn"His welfare is my concern No burden is he to bear We'll get there For I know He would not encumber me He ain't heavy, he's my brother" Is "no burden is he to bear" short for 'no burden is he for me to bear'? (meaning he's not my burden at all) Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AlwaysOnMyMind/wgvjn/post.htmSun, 19 Apr 2009 06:58:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:698968meantolearn" Maybe I didn't hold you All those lonely, lonely times I guess I never told you I'm so happy that you're mine Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time You were always on my mind You were always on my mind" 1. Does 'took the time' and 'took time' mean the same thing? (speding time doing something) 2. What's the difference between 'you were always on my mind' and 'you are always on my mind'? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Cryings/wzrxc/post.htmTue, 31 Mar 2009 21:11:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:692973meantolearn"All my crying s Feel I'm dying, dying Take me back to my own home" the song: Reflections of my life Is 'crying' countable? (crying used as a noun) The dictionary says crying is uncountable. e.g. She could hear crying coming from the next room. Why not use "all my crying" instead? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AHighNote/wzrnx/post.htmTue, 31 Mar 2009 20:43:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:692968meantolearn"Stocks end rough quarter on a high note" What does 'high note' mean? Is it common usage? Thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoYouSuppose/wdkrb/post.htmThu, 12 Mar 2009 08:07:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:685798meantolearnWhat do you suppose is wrong with Lynn? She's so quiet. Are the statements above the same as "what, do you suppose, is wrong with Lynn? She's so quiet"? Is the insertion of 'do you suppose' common usage? Is it OK to say, "who do you suppose is that girl"? Thanks